Home / People / Philipp Senff
Portrait ofPhilipp Senff

Philipp Senff

Partner
Representative | Head of Compliance, CMS Hasche Sigle Shanghai Representative Office (Germany)

CMS, China
CMS Hasche Sigle Shanghai Representative Office (Germany)
3108 Plaza 66 Tower 2
1266 Nanjing Road West
Shanghai 200040
China
Languages German, English, Chinese (Mandarin)

Philipp Senff is recognised as leading corporate, compliance and risk management expert with over 16 years’ of China-related work and business experience. He has extensive experience in advising multinational companies, international banks and entrepreneurs on mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, joint ventures and the restructuring of business operations. Philipp has established a reputable German-Chinese practice that focuses specifically on compliance and risk management in China, which includes compliance audits, risk assessments, internal investigations, whistle-blower management, corporate governance, strategies for robust supply and sales chains and the implementation of compliance management systems for the protection of the company and its management in China and abroad.

Philipp represents clients in a wide variety of industries, including automotive, manufacturing, chemicals, pharmaceutical, medical devices, real estate, transportation, F&B and retail.

Before joining the firm, Philipp worked for other international law firms in Shanghai and Frankfurt. Philipp was for several years the Head of the Shanghai office of a silver circle UK law firm.

more less

Relevant experience

  • Advising a number of German automotive and manufacturing companies on compliance management systems and rapid alert tools for the prevention of compliance risks in China.
  • Exercising a number of compliance audits and internal audits for German automotive and manufacturing companies across China.
  • Supporting a German automotive company on its whistle-blower management and a number of fraud investigations in China.
  • Advising a European consumer goods company on an internal investigation in China and South-East Asia.
  • Advising a German sourcing and distribution group for luxury goods in relation to a dawn raid in China.
  • Advising a UK chemical company on its procurement compliance in relation to the construction of a factory in China.
  • Advising a Norwegian manufacturing company on product safety and environmental compliance requirements in China.
  • Advising European building materials companies on their sales compliance in China.
  • Advising a multinational oil and gas company on its sales compliance in China.
  • Advising a UK private equity fund on the mitigation of its compliance risks in China in conjunction with the acquisition of a manufacturing company of ship components.
  • Advising a multinational banking group on the mitigation of its compliance risks in China in conjunction with the acquisition of a global luxury goods retailer.
  • Advising a German manufacturing company on its crisis management in conjunction with the restructuring of its operations in China.
more less

Memberships & Roles

  • German-Chinese Lawyer’s Association
  • German Corporate Law Association
  • German Institute of Compliance
more less

Publications

  • "Corona bringt deutsche Lieferketten in Gefahr“, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 4 February 2020
  • "Coronavirus wird zum Katalysator für bestehende Probleme“, WirtschaftsWoche, 27 February 2020
  • "Wo die Korruption bis heute lauert“, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 16 October 2019
  • Book "Governance, Risk and Compliance Management in China - Practical Guidance for Executives", published at Haufe Verlag, January 2018, 520 pages, Senff/Zhang (editors.)
  • Book "Compliance Management in China - Praxishandbuch für Manager", published at Haufe Verlag, June 2015, 304 pages, Stucken/Senff (editors)
  • Publications and interviews in relation to management and legal matters (Bloomberg, Börsenzeitung, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, German Chamber of Commerce in China, WirtschaftsWoche, etc)
more less

Education

  • Rechtsanwalt (Qualified German lawyer)
  • First and second state examination in law
  • Legal Training (Rechtsreferendariat) in Frankfurt and Shanghai
more less

Feed

06/02/2024
Amendments of PRC Criminal Law in relation to Corruption in Public and...
On 29 December 2023, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress ("NPC") has issued the Amendment XII to the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China (“Amendment XII to the PRC Criminal...
09/08/2023
Stricter Liability Risks for Corruption in China due to Amendments of PRC...
The Chinese regulator, the Fourth Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), has most recently examined the Draft Amendments...
16/01/2023
Corporate Social Credit System in China - Top 20 FAQ
The following shows a selection of frequently answered questions in conjunction with China’s Corporate Social Credit System (“CSCS”) and reflects the most recent regulatory developments until January...
16/01/2023
Corporate Social Credit System in China - Top 20 FAQ
The following shows a selection of frequently answered questions in conjunction with China’s Corporate Social Credit System (“CSCS”) and reflects the most recent regulatory developments until January...
19/12/2022
2023 - Topics that may Concern You
2022 has been a challenging year. In addition to the continuing impact of COVID-19 and the recent relaxation measures in China, the war in Ukraine has also brought impacts on society, politics and businesses...
19/01/2022
Exemption from Criminal Prosecution in China through Monitoring of Compliance...
The Chinese regulator is in process to develop a mechanism, which shall exempt corporate and individual offenders under certain requirements from criminal prosecution. Key requirement shall be that the...
25/03/2021
Corporate Social Credit System in China - Top 5 Implications for the Risk...
China’s new Corporate Social Credit System (“CSCS”) has a significant regulatory and business impact on companies operating in China. The following shows the top 5 implications for the risk management...
12/01/2021
Change of Penalties under new PRC Criminal Law
On December 26, 2020, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, voted to adopt the “Amendments to the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China (11)”...
10/06/2020
Covid-19 business criminal law and other issues in China
1. Could your business face criminal (or administrative) liability for exposure or risk of exposure to COVID-19 to (1) staff or (2) business partners and the public, under existing laws or new measures...
17/04/2020
New Compliance Requirements for the Export of Medical Devices from China...
China is currently one of the most important exporting nations of medical devices, including devices essential to treating COVID-19 patients and keeping healthcare professionals safe. China has now strengthened...
03/11/2016
CMS, China welcomes new partner Philipp Senff
Shanghai, China – CMS, China is pleased to announce that Philipp Senff joined the firm’s Shanghai Office on 31 October 2016. He is appointed as Partner and Head of China’s new Compliance Practice...